i have an escort passport 8500 x50 as well, aweeesome detector. Ive had it for almost 9yr now and it is showing its age, it still detects great, but as its grown older its showing the 'service' message in stints, but its normally just solved by cycling power, also in stints it will spike power and alert to laser when there is clearly no laser detecting. I need to send it in or buy an updated one - but for the time being its not often bad enough to really bother me. Plus, as ive gotten older and gas has gotten higher I speed less and less. Would reccommend picking one up for sure.
Im still too scared to drive without it though...